Enfield P53 Type 3 Question

[Jim Cunningham]

I recently obtained an Enfield P53 Type 3, pictured below.

5227

This is the first one I've seen stamped 24 rather than 25. Does anyone know what that indicates?


5228


There are no stock stamps, and it appears that the stock may have been refinished and repaired. Under the barrel, beneath the rear sight SHARP is stamped

5229

Beneath the barrel by the tang an H and C are stamped. Does anyone know what this signifies.
5230

Thank You,


Jim Cunningham

[Maillemaker]

The number represents the weight of a solid lead sphere that fits in the barrel.

24 corresponds to .579 while 25 would be .577.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauge_(bore_diameter)

I don't know anything about the other markings.

That looks like a very nice Enfield to me.

Steve

[Jim Cunningham]

Thank you Steve. I understood that it denoted .579 diameter, I simply never encountered an Enfield in that caliber. How common was that caliber? I thought all Enfield's were .577, the way all issued 1903-A3's were .308/7.62 diameter. Finding an 8mm '03 would strike me as unusual. Why would and Enfield be rifled .579?

[Maillemaker]

When I was googling this I found one example that was 26. I suspect it was not intentional but that is what the arm was inspected at. Sometimes you will have two different numbers - one is the initial inspection and the second is the final inspection and there was one example where it was a different gage at final inspection than at first.

Steve

[Smosin]

That's a 3-band made by the English gun trade for commercial sale, not an English-government issued rifle musket. The bore gauged a bit larger, .58 instead of .577, common in the guns sold to both sides during the distant unpleasantness. The markings on the barrel underside indicate the barrel maker and/or fitter, but I'm not sure which. Dare I say, post your photos on the British Militaria Forum and those experts can give you all the answers.

[Curt]

Hallo!

It is less common to find "24's" than the "25's." "24" is sometimes seen on Birmingham guns as they were still "hand made" by a number of makers and did not have interchangeable parts so "tolerances' varied more than on the government made RSAF guns. ACW purchases of these "obsolete in British" eyes guns extended their lives after the Brits dropped them.

They are the proofing system used by the Birmingham proof house for Birmingham Small Arms Trade guns.

Starting at the bottom or closet to the breech...

The first is the Provisional Proof, Gauge, and View Mark. These were stamped after the barrel passed the first proof (I have the proof system around here somewhere if anyone wants to know details).

Next, the finished barrel was proofed and its "gauge" stamped along with the final and definitive proof and was good to go.

In brief, single letters NUG represent a sub-inspector for that part or component. The U.S. did the same. (Trivia: That be tricky for the US as they also used "C" for condemned parts. :) )

Typically in the BSAT, different firms made different parts and the were brought together and assembled into the finished gun. The barrel maker's name was stamped on the barrel (made it easier to know who screwed it up should it fail or burst :) :) )

Curt

[Jim Cunningham]

Thank you. I appreciate the information and insight